On 9 September 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Advisory No. 2014-067 to announce its plan to authorized pharmacists to administer adult vaccines and other immune products. Under Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10918, other known as the “Pharmacy Law”, administration of adult vaccines, as authorized by the FDA, constitutes practice of the profession of pharmacy. Said administration, however, should be supported by a proper training for its safe administration and adverse event following, immunization (AEFI). Pharmacists, under likewise hold a certificate of training issued by an institution accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), to administer adult vaccines.
Under Department of Health Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 2016-0003, drugstores may conduct “other additional activities but may require appropriate regulation or be handled on a case to case basis”, but should properly apply for variation of their License to Operate (LTO).
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Nela Charade G. Puno is reiterating her warning to the public to report to the FDA and the Department of Health (DOH) names of doctors who continue to dispense the banned Trivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (tOPV).
The FDA cancelled the Certificates of Product Registration (CPR) last year of all manufacturers, importers and distributors of tOPV vaccines in line with the Order of the DOH for all health facilities nationwide to stop using tPOV to avoid the re-emergence of circulating vaccine-derived polio virus type 2. All remaining inventories of tOPV were also ordered destroyed.
“This type of vaccine has already been banned by the DOH and FDA since last year.” Puno said. In the light of recent reports that some private physicians continue to prescribe tOPV, we are calling on the public to be vigilant in the type of polio vaccine that is prescribed to their children.
DOH Undersecretary Gerardo V. Bayugo pointed out in the order that the Polio Endgame Plan of the World Health Organization being supported by the DOH requires the removal of all oral polio vaccine in the long term, beginning with the switch from trivalent OPV to bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) since April of 2016. This was to remove the type 2 component from the immunization program.
The FDA subsequently issued an advisory June 2016 for the switch from tPOV to bPOV.
We are alarmed at the disregard by these practitioners of the DOH Memo and the FDA directive banning the use of tPOV. The distributors and retailers who continue to store this banned vaccine will be held criminally charged as well. This puts at risk public health and can compromise the global eradication of polio that we have been working for in the past decades. Puno warned.
Needless to say, we are coming after them with the full force of the law. The public must be vigilant as well. Do not give tPOV to your children, Puno reiterated.
Director General Puno and Usec. Bayugo urged the public to report violators to the DOH and the FDA Hotlines:
Statement on Serological Testing Prior to Dengue Vaccine Administration
The following statement has been prepared by the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) and has been endorsed by the PPS BOT for dissemination
For so many years, pediatricians have beenvisiting the PPS office to seek help and practical guidelines about clinical practices. Almost without exemption, we went because of the various concerns and queries including financial matters.
Our PPS group in Marikina and Rizal was fortunate to be visited once again by no less than the PPS President, Dr. Alexander O. Tuazon, as he had promised during our first meeting in August 2016. He was accompanied by PPS Treasurer Dr. Florentina U. Ty. and was held at the CVJ Clubhouse in Marikina City on February 23, 2017, the activity was participated in by almost a hundred PPS members.
The activity began with the invocation led by Dr. Lolita Uy. A discussion about the joint advocacy of the PPS and the American Academy of Pediatrics on Immunization was echoed by our representative Dr. Soidemer Claire C. Grecia who attended the workshop at the PPS Building last November 16 and 17, 2016. Dr. Tuazon also shared that this call is a continued project of the immediate past president , Dr. Milagros Bautista. Concerns with the vaccine surveillance and tally forms, to be submitted by private pediatricians, were being raised.
Dr Soi Grecia on the Immunization Workshop
The president was excited to talk about the upcoming 54th Annual PPS Convention which will be held on April 2-5, 2017. New policies on registration and changes in the schedule of the PPS business meeting were mentioned. Improvement on the online “paperless” registration and banking transactions, developments on the PPS building and improved PPS website were also discussed. He answered questions about CPD PPS units and their relation with the new PRC guidelines on license renewal. He also mentioned about his plans to come up with a joint advocacy with AAP regarding tobacco smoke during his term as president.
To keep us abreast with the modern technology, Dr. Tuazon gave us a glimpse of the future with the introduction of PPS Mobile App, exclusively for members. This is going to be a useful tool kit equipped with innovative features to aid us in our practice such as growth charts, blood pressure charts, etc.
Convention badge and kit retrieval forms were distributed among pre-registered members during our meeting and many purchased the newest 4th edition PPS TB Handbook. A “traditional” group photo with the president concluded the night. We are looking forward to the next visit .The activity was organized through the efforts of Drs. Martini Ventura and Norlyn Rosadia.
This article was contributed by Dr. Ruth Atibula. Photos were shared by Drs. Lolita Uy , Joy Ricafrente and Ruth Atibula.
The Board of Trustees led by Dr. Alexander Tuazon are in Cebu right now to be with the Central Visayas Chapter . Updates on the innovations and developments of the society were tackled. The forum created an avenue for interaction with members.
The Board of Trustees led by Dr. Alexander Tuazon are in Cebu right now to be with the Central Visayas Chapter . Updates on the innovations and developments of the society were tackled. The forum created an avenue for interaction with members.
